I know, I know, it's a horribly word-y title. I'm waiting in desperate hope that something more witty will occur to me in the next 3 or so years. But that's my (current) thesis title. 

As it suggests, my PhD is focusing on what happens when family groups encounter moments of failure (or challenge, or obstacles, or problems - see here for my musings on language), and particularly looking at how we can encourage families to develop their problem-solving skills through tinkering & making activities.

While I'm a student at Northumbria University, my PhD is also part-hosted by Life Science Centre, which is in the centre of Newcastle. I'm focusing my studies on their Making Studios, and working with their Makers, and public engagement team to develop activities, improve our learning experiences, and consider the pedagogy (or method of learning) we are creating.

I've got three main parts of my PhD:

1. A study to capture what the Making Studios are like, and what the experiences of staff and visitors are currently.

2. A collaborative design process with staff at Life, visitors and experts in making, tinkering & science outreach, to create a new digital tinkering activity.

3. A run of the new activity, where I'll be capturing the experiences of visitors, and how different resources we have created support families to problem-solve.